Year
after year many RVers return to their favourite utopia in the sunny
south. Although for those new to this lifestyle and those of us who like
to move around, determining where to go each winter can become a major
decision.The choice is so
vast and deciding where to spend three to six months of our valuable RV
travel time away from the cold takes some planning.Yes there are a group of RVers who simply turn the key and point
their RV south to no where in particular, however many of us prefer to
have some plan in place before we begin our journey.

When
you leave Canada in the cold winter weather a number of parks en route
will be closed for the season.Don’t
despair there are numerous free places to stop for the night till the
days become warmer BUT NOT AT REST AREAS.The majority of truck stops provide a safe overnight parking spot
however the Flying J stations encourage RV’s to park overnight away
from the trucks. Call 1 800 438 3537 www.flyingj.com
for a brochure listing their North America locations. (Flying J's
and Pilot have merged). These RV friendly
truck stops now have locations across Canada. Truck stops of America are
also RV friendly plus several others.

Wal-mart stores (their locations are listed in the back of the
Wal-mart atlas). HOWEVER IN ALL
CASES ALWAYS ASK IF IT IS OK, some counties have by-laws against
overnight parking. For added
security BE SURE TO PARK WITH YOUR COACH DOOR FACING THE CARS AND
CAMERAS. These
places know most of us will spend money by shopping or have a meal
before turning in. One other option RVing
friends from the Maritime provinces use is to pull into hotel and motel parking
lots---frequently for a small fee they can plug into an electric
connection designed for cars to plug into in the winter. Plugging
in is a wise move if you plan to use your furnace during your trip
south.

One
word of caution, the majority of resorts, private parks, state and
national parks in sun country are very busy places from mid January to
the end of February.Yes
you possibly can find a campsite in a large park but it may take some
looking to find that special place to settle into for a few weeks or
longer.

Texas offers a little more leeway in the reservation end of thing. All
parks will not be over booked all winter.

Look
for a winter getaway with features that appeal to your desires ---
Remember you are shopping from a distance so you must ask questions.

Begin
your research by deciding on your chosen state or a specific area,
then determine your exact destination.

Next,
call the toll free number of your choice destination state, if
you do not know the number call 1 800 555 1212 and ask for the
toll-free tourist bureau number.Request their travel package and a map; don’t forget to ask
for camping information as well.

When
you are talking with the travel centres of each state request information on
National parks, State parks and BLM (Bureau Land Management) areas
too. Some BLM properties (listed in International Campground
Directories) offer a no cost free period where RVers can camp
without hook-ups. Longer stays are available for those with a low
cost annual permit.

Once
you settle on an area, peruse one of the main International
Campground Directories such as Trailer Life or Woodall's (available
from RV Dealers and book stores).Find one or more parks that appeal to you. Your preferred
destinations may either be a very active resort or a park with
limited amenities other than a quiet place in the sun.Of course costs will be lower at small campgrounds with
minimal activities located in laidback areas.

Contact
your choice park by phone or through the Internet; ask about the
number of available RV sites. Do they have a majority of park models
and permanent trailers or are there a number of mobile RV sites as well.
Are all the RV’s together near park amenities or are
they interspersed throughout the park.Make sure the RV sites are not in a distant field as an
afterthought to park layout.

Request
rates for weekly and monthly stays, ask about discounts for three or
four month stops.The
longer the stay usually translates into a lower per-month price.
Does the park request the full amount be paid in advance or by the
month? Also ask if they offer Canadian at Par - many do.

Is
electric power metered and at what cost or is it included in the
overall seasonal price? Are 30-50 amp electrical connections
available?

Do
park amenities include cable TV hook-ups (at what cost?). Is the
resort modem friendly (a place to connect your laptop computer for
on line access)?Are
there instant telephone hook-ups available at your campsite?

Are
the sites large enough for big rigs and for slide outs? Are they full service (EWS), pull through or back in?

Are
pets welcome? Is there a restriction on number allowed and size?

Is
there an on-site store and laundry facilities? Are grocery stores
and other conveniences located nearby?

Is
there a large pool for lap swimming (indoor and/or outdoor), hot
tub, tennis courts, billiard room, shuffleboard courts, exercise
rooms and physical functions such as dancercise or floor activities?

Are
the roads paved for morning and evening exercise walking?

Do
weekly dances, dance lessons or floor exercises have a place on the
monthly activity program?

Are
interesting tourist attractions located nearby? Does the park contract
bus tours and other excursions leaving from the resort?

If
you are happy with the initial facts, request the park mail you a
promo package.The
campground may also have a webpage to answer your questions. NOTE:
Non-RVers can also find a rental winter home by following the above
suggestions. Ask if the park/resort has rental units for non-RVing
customers.

RVers
who expect kids and grandkids to visit over the winter should
determine if young visitors are allowed in a park designed as
‘Adults Only’.

The
above tips cover most questions RVers need to know for long-term stops,
but if you have any other concerns ask them up front.This way you will not arrive at your park faced with several
surprises.

NOTE:
If moving around is your preferred form of travel then staying at
membership parks or camping clubs is an economical option.

This
is an interesting rewrite of a story I wrote about Five Star
Campgrounds---I used a park in Rio Grande Valley in Texas as an example
but resorts such as this punctuate many locations in the sunny south.

MANY OF THE ABOVE SUGGESTIONS ARE PART OF THIS STORY

Campground
designs appeal to a wide variety of interest groups. Provincial, State
and National Parks along with Conservation areas feature natural outdoor
atmosphere.In one Canadian province, gravel pits are popular no cost
stopping spots and in others no cost isolated camping utopias near
beautiful lakes or mountains or beaches are the getaway of choice.
Numerous RVers enjoy extended dry camping in the Arizona Dessert and
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) destinations scattered throughout the
USA--- low cost permits are available in the vicinity. On the other hand
a variety of private campgrounds, elaborate membership resorts, cost
saving camping clubs and intimate RV parks add even more camping
choices. These days every RVer has a perfect opportunity to find a place
to suit their budget, their wishes and their desires to a ‘T’.

Overall
we have found that the Ultimate RV Getaways are the popular full service
RV Resorts scattered throughout southern sun country. It is
mind-boggling to see the abundant activities offered at these parks
simply for the pleasure of their visitors who are wintering away from
those dear to them, time simply won’t allow participation in
everything. Yes, many quality parks located in Canada and Northern USA
also promote an extensive calendar featuring a variety of fun things to
do but the mindset of the RVing population is different in south.In the North the majority of long-term summer residents consider
their RV a home or cottage where they are comfortable near family and
friends. This usually translates as less participation in park
activities for seasonal residents although overnight guests still enjoy
being pampered.

At
many Five Star Resorts, permanent ‘park model homes ’ and less
elaborate stationary ‘park trailers’ intertwine with all types of units
on the move from faraway places. Spacious streets and manicured grounds
enhance the overall appearance. Although some resorts include on-site
rental units as part of their amenities, in most parks when an owner
can’t use their unit, the office staff will frequently make it
available as a winter rental.To find one of these elaborate winter paradises, peruse the
International RV directories such as Trailer Life or Woodall's. Locate a
place you want to spend a few months and call several resorts to request
a package that includes rates, rental availability, activity schedules
etc.

Expect
the schedule to be busy in the larger parks but this may also translate
into higher monthly rent. Central and south Florida, Rio Grande Valley
in Texas, southern Arizona and California are the most popular winter
destinations however over the years we found monthly campground costs in
south Texas to be the most reasonable.It goes without saying that the climate in the parks located in
the northern portion of these states and their neighbouring states on
the same horizontal plain could have cooler temperatures from mid
December to late February. Although these parks generally offer many
amenities, they may be smaller and more relaxed with lower monthly
rates. Remember the further south you go, the more appealing the weather
should be, although no one can guarantee a perfect climate

Note: Expect rates to decrease the longer you call the park home.
For example, fees for one month stops are usually higher than the per
month rate of a four month stay---each park will have different rates.
During the 99/00 season we spent the winter at a park in the Rio Grande
Valley with1000+ sites, rent for four months was $1185.00 US$, our
friends paid $1100.00 US$ for a spot in a similar park in another area.However during our travels we found several smaller intimate (150 sites)
resorts nearby with scaled down calendars that only charged $700.00 US$
for the same time frame. One
winter we went to a park where our friends spend the winter
and cost is $200.00 per month plus electric. There are also
several parks in the south, especially Texas, that may offer Canadian at Par
rates. Reservations are important; nevertheless empty sites may be
available January to March at elaborate and immense parks but frequently smaller ones
will be booked by mid November.

Amenities
at our park were diverse including most of what is mentioned below but
the same type of events happens at RV parks everywhere. They could include tennis and shuffleboard courts, volleyball, horseshoe
pits, table tennis, billiard/pool hall, large pool(s)--some with open
roofs, immense hot-tub(s), exercise room(s), library, card rooms and
much more. Competition between parks adds intrigue.

ØAt many parks a fulltime Activity Director juggles the numerous
events and functions that dot their monthly calendar from fitness to
dance lessons to card games to inexpensive evening entertainment to
computer clubs to Spanish classes to a singles club to
bike clubs and so much more.

ØMany of the winter visitors
became proficient in
stainglass (I made a window for our coach door), ceramics, wood
chipping, woodcarving, woodworking, quilting, crocheting and knitting.
Group sewing projects included 100’s of bandanas for cancer patients,
blankets for the needy, and Christmas stockings for families adopted by
the resort. We were all so proud of our achievements.

ØThose who crafted many projects sold them at monthly craft shows
that were open to visitors.In south Texas at least one craft show was ‘happening’ every
weekend.

ØCreating decorations for
extravagant dinner shows such as the Mexican
Fiesta, Western Days, Casino Night, Luau, and Christmas Celebrations
encouraged yet another facet of togetherness.

ØRestaurant car pool excursions promoted one more form of special
camaraderie. Ice cream socials, soup nights, potlucks, pancake
breakfasts along with special event dinner theatres added another
dimension. A ladies luncheon complete with entertainment provided a
touch of class while groups celebrating Canadian Days, various state
gatherings, pioneer days (honouring the parks first residents) and 50th
Anniversaries also congregated around a decadent potluck meal.

ØInexpensive live performances by professional ‘Name
Entertainers’ each week open yet another dimension to park life.

ØJamming for big band musicians, gospel participants and the Rio
Grande Valley Concert Band consisting of 60 retired musicians from
across North America, along with choral groups provide abundant musical
interludes.

ØThese parks are in reality mini-cities. This included
non-denominational church services extraordinaire complete with a joint
choir, a special chorus plus a bible study to enhance inspiration.

Snowbird
parks also care about your health. In the Rio Grande Valley and several
other snowbird locations, a motorhome converted into fully staffed
walk-in Medical Clinic makes weekly visits to each park. The ‘Mobile
Clinic’ becomes much more convenient than visiting a doctor or
hospital for non-critical procedures. Weekly blood pressure screenings,
heart attack warning services and health-wise seminars were a regular
part of the activityschedule.

Although much of the above activities were part of the schedule
at our park in the Rio Grande Valley, John and I found similar amenities
at large parks everywhere throughout sun country. For instance in
Arizona a few years ago our park hosted several mega parties from
December to April. Christmas wagon rides, gift exchange, RV decorating
contests, dances, extra special family style dinners and New Years
dances were seasonal highlights but the Spring Fling Fashion Show, St
Patrick Party, Pet Parade also added variety to the calendar.Each spring the park owners sponsored a visitor appreciation day
in the form of a Mexican Fiesta Extravaganza extraordinaire.What a party, the owners even added an extra large tent for the
occasion. The entire event including drinks and a tasty meal was a no
cost day for all park visitors. The joys of this wonderful RV lifestyle
never cease to amaze me.

Wherever
your travels take you, enjoy the journey; with a little planning you too
can have a fantastic Ultimate Winter Getaway.